Posted on 01/05/2005 6:46:37 PM PST by nypokerface
HELENA, Mont. - Gov. Brian Schweitzer, fearing a "public relations nightmare" for Montana, said Wednesday he wants to cancel a hunt for bison that wander outside Yellowstone National Park.
The newly inaugurated Democrat said he hopes to find a way to postpone the season for a year — it's set to start Jan. 15 — by either ordering the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks not to issue licenses, or by filling the Fish and Game Commission with new members who would reverse the decision to approve the hunt.
Schweitzer said he is not sure he can legally do the former, or has the time to do the latter.
After meetings with state wildlife and livestock officials and a representative of the ranching industry, Schweitzer said he is convinced the planned sale of 10 bison hunting licenses will make the state look bad — and do nothing to curb the ballooning Yellowstone herd. Each license allows the holder to shoot one bison.
"My instinct is to cancel it," Schweitzer said. "How does this make sense to shoot 10 head? We're still going to suffer" the negative national publicity.
The hunt was halted in 1991 after a barrage of bad publicity. Some environmentalists have threatened more protests if a hunt takes place this year.
Jeff Hagener, Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks director, doubted the outcry would be as loud this time; the new hunt will be more conventional, without warden escorts and prearranged hunting excursions, he explained. The 10 licenses will be awarded through a lottery.
Montana ranchers fear the migrating bison will transmit brucellosis, a disease that causes cows to abort.
Under a management plan now in place, officials attempt to herd bison that leave Yellowstone back to the park. Those that cannot be returned are captured; those testing positive for brucellosis are sent to slaughter.
appearances are everything.
Just like a Democrat. If Schweitzer had guts, he'd tell the enviro wackos to hit the road and get the hell out of Montana!
ping
Like 10 bison mean anything except in the newspapers and in politics...
Is this "Scrappleface"; ummmm, no... it's reality. (((:::SIGH:::)))
Just do it Native American style and run them off a cliff. Bus in school kids from the East to watch.
Ten? This clown needs a grip on reality. Saying there are ten bison and "we need to save them", is the same argument animal rights activists have been screaming about the disappearing wolf and deer population for decades.
Preferably under the cliff.
Oh, I'm gonna burn in he(( for this comment.
This governor needs to take those to heart--
Nature is at work, the ones that go where they shouldn't DON'T need to be returned to where they don't want to be...leave them to their fate.
Isn't Montana where Ted Turner has his Buffalo ranch? So it's ok to slaughter them for profit, but not hunt them for defense against disease. Hmmm.
I am a native Montanan living as an econonic refugee here in California. I am sorry to say that this guy will have Montana so screwed up in 4 years that California may begin to look better than my Big Sky Country.
Rights, farms, environment ping.
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.
and Montana voters are not very bright ...
after all, they elect Democrat Senators as well,
but at least they did not give their electoral votes to Kerry.
"Let's let the Native Americans do it. Cultural rights and all. Give the left a dilemma".
Nope. The enviro-commies don't give a s**t about native rights unless it concurrently pokes the republicans in the eye. The enviro-commies were out in force trying to stop the Macah indians from hunting a couple of gray whales here in Washington. The indians should have harpooned the commies.
What makes you think they aren't gonna do it anyway? You should see what Native Americans (injuns) do with salmon in the northwest.
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